West Warwick council funds SCBAs, a rescue vehicle, station engineering and boosts community paramedicine

The West Warwick Town Council on March 18 approved several measures to support fire and emergency medical services, including a FEMA-funded purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA), acquisition of a rescue vehicle, engineering work for a deteriorating apparatus bay floor at Fire Station 1, and a reallocation of ambulance-billing revenues to the town—s community paramedicine program.

Fire leadership told the council they secured a FEMA grant providing roughly $412,000 toward the purchase of 41 SCBA units; town capital and an SCBA account will cover the department—s co-pay. The council approved the purchase and the associated acceptance of grant funds.

The council also approved buying a refurbished rescue box on a new chassis rather than a fully custom new vehicle, a decision the department said will save about $150,000 compared with a brand-new custom chassis. Funding will come from lease savings and the rescue recovery fund.

Council members approved $15,800 to pay Commonwealth Engineering for slab design and plan development for Fire Station 1—s apparatus floor. Staff said core sampling identified deterioration in six panels and that the engineering work will support a future RFP and construction; the engineering cost was included as part of a state public-safety infrastructure grant and is a 50/50 match.

The council also approved reallocating ambulance-billing funds to continue and expand the community paramedicine program. Lieutenant Ryan Simcoe reported that since July 2023 the program enrolled over 160 patients, 61 of whom have ``graduated.'' Graduates showed an 82% reduction in 911 responses after graduation, a reduction estimated to equal roughly 250 fewer responses and an approximate cost savings of $350,000. Simcoe and council members said low Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement rates (discussed at about $400 per response in the meeting) make long-term sustainability dependent on town funding or changes to billing rules.

Why it matters: The actions combine immediate operational needs (new SCBAs and a rescue vehicle) with investments to address longer-term facility integrity and an ongoing preventive health program that reduces emergency responses. Council discussion touched on supply timelines for equipment, grant match requirements, and the public-safety risks of delaying equipment replacement.

Each measure passed by council vote; the meeting record shows no recorded roll-call tallies for individual members in the transcript, but approvals were announced by voice vote.